Folding music stand



May 26, 1964 R. L. HUFFER FOLDING MUSIC STAND Filed March 22 FIG-1.2.

I NVENTOR I ROBERT L. HUFFER 0 Mg M ATTORNEY 3,134,193 FULDING MUSIC STAND Robert L. Hutfer, Union City, Ind, assignor to Eleetrotriin, 111e,, Winchester, End, a corporation of Indiana Fiied Mar. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 267,129 8 (Ilaims. (Cl. 45-121) This invention relates to folding stands and more particularly to a novel type of folding stand especially adapted for supporting sheet music and the like during use by a performing musician.

It is an object of this invention to provide a folding stand for supporting sheet music or the like which is of uncomplicated construction and which can be easily erected or folded as required.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a folding stand having a minimum number of parts and which may be moved either to erected position or to folded position without the use of any-special tools or special securing devices.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a folding stand, particularly suited for use as a music stand, which can be manufactured economically and sold at a moderate price.

1t is another object of the invention to provide a folding stand having a three point suspension which permits it to stand level on an uneven floor.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a folding stand having structural characteristics which impart strength and ruggedness to the stand at a minimum manufacturing expense, while permitting the stand to be light in weight. i

It is still another object of the invention to provide a music stand or the like which may be folded to compact size for transportation or storage.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a folding stand suitable for use as a music stand including a musicsupporting tray whoseweight is evenly distributed across the supporting framework of the stand.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a folding stand suitable for use as'a music stand, including a structural member which adds strength to the stand and is also adapted to receive and display indicia thereon, such as the name or insignia of a school or other-organi zation or of a band or orchestra. I

In the achievement of these objectives, there is provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention a folding stand particularly suited for use as a music stand, including a normally vertical front panel member having hingedly connected to the bottom rear. surface thereof a two-leg first support member preferably formed of rod-like material. A tray panel is hingedly connected to the rear surface of the front panel adjacent the upper edge of the front panel. The tray panel is pro vided adjacent'its lower edge with a pair of laterally spaced slots whichengage interlocking loops carried by the upper ends of the two legs of the first support mem her to hold the stand in erected position. A second support member, also preferably formed of rod-like material,-

' is hingedly connected to the front panel and tray panel adjacentthe upper edges of thesetpanels. I .The second support member;is of generally triangular shape and in-- cludesan apexportionwhich rests on the floortoform a third point of support for the folding stand. ,The'. two

United States Patent 3,134,193 Patented May 26, 1964 "ice legs of the first support member are provided intermediate their length with loop members which interlockingly engage the two legs of the triangular second support member when the stand is moved to its erected, operative position.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which depicts a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the stand in erected, operative position, as viewed from the rear of the stand;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stand of FIG. 1, viewed from a side thereof;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the stand in folded position;

FlG. 4 is a side elevation view of the folded stand;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the method of moving the stand from folded position to erected position; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in cross section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the folding stand of the invention is generally indicated at 10 and includes a front panel member 12 formed of composition board or of any other suitablestrong, stiff and relatively thin sheet material, and a tray panel 14 which may be formed of the same material as front panel 12 and is of the same width as the front panel but is of smaller longitudinal dimension. In an embodiment which has been found entirely satisfactory in actual use, the front panel 12 is substantially 27 inches high and 21 inches wide, and the tray panel 14 is 16 inches high or long and 21 inches Wide.

Tray panel 14 is provided adjacent its lower edge with a pair of laterally spaced slots 15 which engage the interlock loops 35 of support frame member 16 to hold the stand 10 in erected position, as will .be described more fully hereinafter.

Stand 10 is supported by two frame members respectively generally indicated at 16 and 18 which are preferably formed of rod-like metal which may, for example, be approximately A1. inch in diameter. Support member 16 includes a straight or bight portion 20 which is hingedly secured to the innersurface of front panel 12 adjacent the bottom edge of panel 12 by means of a pair of laterally spaced tube clamps 22 which provide bearing sockets permitting pivotal movement of support 16 relative to panel 12. Tube clamps 22 are preferably fastened to panel 12 by tubular rivets. Support member 16 also includes a. pair of oppositely disposed leg members 24 which are each respectively bent at an included angle 0 of slightly less than 90 degrees with respect to the straight or bight portion 20 of support 16. For example, the angle 0 indicated in FIG. 3 between each of the legs 24 and the straight portion 20 of support 16 may be approximately degrees. Thus, thetwo' legs 24 incline toward each other at a slight angle.

' Each of the legs 24 is provided at an portion of its length with a loop generally indicated at 26 lying inthe same plane as the rest of the support 16 and in theisaine plane as theoppositely disposed'loop 26 of the other leg 24. .Each loop 26 includes a straight leg portion 28 which is inclined at an angle which'maybe, for example, 40 degrees away from the axis of its corresponding leg 24-and an upper portion 30 which is slightly less fthan perpendicular tothe axis of its corr'eintermediate '2 1.9 sponding leg 24. The two portions 28 and 39 of each loop 25 are connected at their inner ends by a smooth curved portion or bight 32, which serves as a motionlimiting abutment preventing further pivotal movement of supports 16 and 18 about their respective hinge connections. Each of the legs 2d extends beyond the loop as and is bent laterally at the upper end thereof to form a straight portion 34 which extends substantially parallel to the straight portion 2t? and in a direction toward the adjacent outer vertical edge of the front panel 12. Each leg 24 is then bent to form a downwardly extending portion 36 which, in the illustrated embodiment, forms an included angle with straight portion 34 of slightly less than 90 degrees. A straight cross rod 33 formed of the same material as the legs 24 is welded or otherwise suitably attached at points 40 to the lower free ends of the oppositely disposed downwardly extending portions 36. Cross rod 38 is also welded or otherwise suitably secured to the legs 24- at the points 42 where the cross rods 33 intersect legs 24, It will be seen that the upper end of each leg 24;,ll16 laterally extending portion 34, the downwardly extending portion 36, and the cross member 38 together define a loop-shaped interlock means generally indicated at 35 which engages one of the laterally-extending slots 15 adjacent the lower edge of the tray, panel 34 to hold the music stand in erected position. The lateral dimension of each of the slots 15 is so proportioned relative to the dimensions of the interlock loops 35 as to permit easy insertion of the interlock loops into the respective slots. However, the clearance between the slots 15 and the interlock loops 35 should be such as to minimize any play or relative movement between the interlock loops 35 and the slots 15 after the stand has been erected. The engagement of the interlock loops 35 with the slots 15 increases the strength and ruggedness of the stand at a minimum manufacturing expense. The loop shape of each of the interlock means 35 also forms a handle which can be grasped to facilitate movement of the music stand from its folded to its erected position. Furthermore, the intermediate portion of the length of cross rod 38 between the points 4-2 at which rod 35 is attached to legs 24 serves as a support which engages the under surface of the tray panel 14 when the stand is in erected position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

upport member 18 is formed of the same rod-like material as support member 16, and is of generally triangular shape, including a straight portion 44 and two leg portions 46 which meet at an apex 43. Straight portion 44 is hingedly connected to front panel 12 adjacent the upper edge of the front panel by laterally spaced tube clamps t which are fastened, preferably by tubular rivets, to the front panel. Straight portion 44- of support 18 is also hingedly connected to the inside surface of tray panel 14 adjacent the upper edge of panel 14 by tube clamps 52 which are fastened, preferably by tubular rivets, to the tray panel. Thus, the tube clamps 5t and 52 which are respectively attached to front panel 12 and to tray panel 14 serve as bearings for the pivotal movement of straight portion 44 of support 18 relative to panels 12 and 1e and of panels '12. and 14 relative to each other;

The tray panel 14 is hingedly connected to the inside surface of front panel 12 along a line several inches below the upper edge of the front panel, thereby leaving space adjacent the upper edge of the front panel for attaching a light, if desired, as indicated in dotted outline in FIG. 1 of'the drawing.

If desired, the front surface of front. panel l2 can be decorated in any suitable manner, as, for example, with the name. or insignia of a band, orchestra, school, or the like. 1

When the stand is in folded position, it. assumes the In the folded compact form shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. position, the front panel 12 is lowermost, with the front or outer surface of panel 12 resting on the floor or other support surface. The support member 16 rests directly on the upper or inner surface of front panel 12, and the support member 18 rests on the upper surface of support member 16. The tray panel 14- lies outermost, resting on the upper surface of support 16.

To move the stand to its erected position from the folded position just described, the tray panel 14 is swung to a vertical position as seen in PEG. 5 to expose the support members 16 and 13. The support member 16 is then swung upwardly about its pivotal supports or hinges 2, as by grasping one of the interlock loops 35. As support member 15 is swung pivotally upwardly, support member 13, which rests on'the upper surface of support member M, also is swung upwardly about its pivotal supports St and 52 due to the motion of support member 16. With the continued upward movement of the support members 16 and 1%, the legs 46 of support memher 18 move along the legs 24 of support member 16 and enter the loops 25 of the respective legs 24-. Fun ther relative movement of supports 16 and 13 is arrested when legs 56 of support i8 engage the bight portions 32 of the respective loops 26. When this occurs, the interlock loops 35 are then manually inserted in slots 15 adjacent the forward edge of tray panel 14 and the tray panel is moved downwardly until the under surface of the tray panel between slots 15 engages the intermediate portion of the cross bar 33 between the interlock loops 35. The stand is then in erected, operative position. The stand'is then turned so that the bottom edge of front panel 12 and the apex of support 18 rest on the floor. The stand is then ready for use. The stand may be moved from erected to folded position by reversing the procedure just described.

It can be seen from the foregoing that there is provided in accordance with this invention a folding stand particularly suitable for use as a folding music stand. The folding stand of the invention has many advantages including a minimum number of parts which cooperate to impart strength and ruggedness to the stand at minimum manufacturing expense. The stand includes a three point suspension which permits it to stand level on an uneven fioor. The structural relation of the tray panel to the support structure provides optimum support for the tray along its entire width. The stand is light in weight and may be folded to a compact size for transportation or storage. The stand may be easily erected from its folded position, or folded from its erected position. The structure of the stand also adapts it to receive suitable decoration such as the name or insignia of a school, band, or orchestra.

While there has been shown and described a particular preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and therefore it is aimed to cover by the appended claims all suchchanges and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1'. A folding stand comprising a normally vertical first panel including oppositely disposed upper and lower edges, a first support member hingedly connected to said first panel adjacent the lower edge of said first panel, said first support member including a pair of laterally spaced legs having abutments thereon intermediate the lengths thereof, a second panel, said second panel including oppositely disposed upper and lower edges and having at least one slotted opening adjacent the lower edge thereof, means hingedly connecting an edge of said second panel to said first panel adjacent the upper edge of said first panel, a second support member of generally triangular shape including a pair of legs which converge angularly toward each other and meet in an apex at the lower end of said second support member, said second support memher being hingedly connectedto said first and second panels at the hinged connection of said panels to each other, said first and second support members being movable about their respective hinged connections to a limiting position in which said legs of said second support member engage said abutments of said first support member, and interlock means carried by the upper end of said first support member and engaging said slotted opening in said second panel.

2. A folding stand comprising a normally vertical first panel including oppositely disposed upper and lower edges, a first support member hingedly connected to said first panel adjacent the lower edge of said first panel, said first support member including a pair of laterally spaced legs having abutments thereon intermediate the lengths thereof, a second panel, said second panel including oppositely disposed upper and lower edges and having laterally spaced slotted openings adjacent the lower edge thereof, means hingedly connecting an edge of said second panel to said first panel adjacent the upper edge of said first panel, a second support member of generally triangular shape including a pair of legs which converge angularly toward each other and meet in an apex at the lower end of said second support member, said second support member being hingedly connected to said first and second panels at the hinged connection of said panels to each other, said first and second support members being movable about their respective hinge connections to a limiting position in which said legs of said second support member engage said abutments of said first support member, and interlock means carried by the upper ends of said legs of said first support member and engaging said slotted openings in said second panel.

3. A folding stand comprising a normally vertical first panel including oppositely disposed upper and lower edges, a first support member formed of rod-like material and including a first straight portion hingedly connected to said first panel adjacent the lower edge of said first panel, said first support member including a pair of laterally spaced legs extending upwardly from opposite ends of said first straight portion, each of said laterally spaced legs including an abutment thereon intermediate the length thereof, a second panel, said second panel including opposite- 1y disposed upper and lower edges and having laterally spaced slotted openings adjacent the lower edge thereof, means hingedly connecting an edge of said second panel to said first panel adjacent the upper edge of said first panel, a second support member formed of rod-like material and of generally triangular shape including a pair of legs which converge angularly toward each other and meet in an apex at the lower end of said second support member, said second support member being hingedly connected to said first and second panels at the pivotal connection of said panels to each other, said first and second support members being movable about their respective hinged connections to a limiting position in which said legs of said second support member engage said abutments of said first support member, and interlock means carried by the upper ends of said legs of said first supportmember and engaging said slotted openings in said second panel.

7 4. A folding stand comprising a normally vertical first panel including oppositely disposed upper and lower edges, a first support member hingedly connected to said first panel adjacent the lower edge of said first panel, said first support member including a pair of laterally spaced legs each having an inwardly extending outwardly open second support member, said second support member being hingedly connected to said first and second panels at the hinged connection of said panels to each other, said first and second support members being movable about their respective hinged connections to a limiting position in which said legs of said second support member are received within said loops of said first support member, and interlock means carried by the upper ends of said legs of said first support member and engaging said slotted openings in said second panel.

5. A folding stand comprising a normally vertical first panel including oppositely disposed upper and lower edges, a first support member formed of rod-like material and including a first straight portion hingedly connected to said first panel adjacent the lower edge of said first panel, said first support member including a pair of laterally spaced legs extending of said first straight portion, legs having an inwardly extending outwardly open loop formed thereon intermediate the length thereof, a second panel, said second panel including oppositely disposed upper and lower edges and having laterally spaced slotted openings adjacent the lower edge thereof, means hingedly connecting an edge of said second panel to said first panel adjacent the upper edge of said first panel, a second support member of generally triangular shape including a pair of legs which converge angularly toward each other and meet in an apex at the lower end of said second support member, said second support member being hingedly connected to said first and second panels at the hinged connection of said panels to each other, said first and second support members being movable about their respective hinge connections to a limiting position in which said legs of said second support member are received within said loops of said first support member, and interlock means carried by the upper ends of said legs of said first support member and engaging said slotted openings in said second panel.

6. A folding stand comprising a normally vertical first panel includingoppositely disposed upper and lower edges, a first support member formed of rod-like material and hingedly connected to said first panel adjacent the lower edge of said first panel, a second panel, said second panel including oppositely disposed upper and lower edges and having a pair of laterally spaced slotted openings adjacent the lower edge thereof, means hingedly connecting an edge of said second panel to said first panel adjacent the upper edge of said first panel, a second support member formed of rod-like material, said second support member being hingedly connected to at least one of said panels adjacent the hinged connection of said panels to each other, and means interlockingly engaging said first and second support members in crossed relation with each other intermediate the lengths of said support members, said first support member being formed to include a pair of looplike interlock members at the upper end thereof, and said pair of interlock members engaging said laterally spaced slotted openings in said second panel when said stand is in erected position. I

7. A folding stand comprising a normally vertical first panel including oppositely disposed upper and lower loop formed thereon intermeediate the length thereof, a

second panel, said second panel including oppositelydisposed upper and lower edges and'having laterally, spaced slotted openings, adjacent the lower edge thereof, means hingedly connecting an'edge of saidsecond panel to said first panel adjacent the upper edge of said first panel, a

second support member of generally triangular shape including a pair of legs which converge angularly toward each other and meet in an apex atthe lower end ofsaid edges, a first support member formed of rod-like material and hingedly connected to said first panel adjacent the lower edge of said first panel, said first support member including a pair of laterally spaced legs, a second panel, said second panel including oppositely disposed upper and lower edges and having a pair of laterally spaced slotted openings adjacent the lower edge thereof, means hingedly connecting an edge of said second panel to said first panel adjacent the upper edge of said first panel, a second. 1

support member formed-of rod-like material, said second support member being hingedly connected to at least one of said panels adjacent the hinged connection of said panels to each other, and means interlockingly engaging said first and second support members in crossed relaupwardly from opposite ends each of said laterally spaced tion with each other intermediate the lengths of said supmember being adapted to underlie said second panel in port members, each of the laterally spaced legs of said supporting relation thereto When said interlock members rst support member being formed at its upper end to inengage said slotted openings in said second panel. elude a loop-like interlock member which engages one of the laterally spaced slotted openings in said second panel 5 Refefemes Citefi in the file of this Patent when said stand is in erected position. UNITED STATES PATENTS 4e I V 2,935,812 Adami May 10, 1960 member between the laterally spaced legs thereof adjacent the lower ends of said interlock members, said cross 10 Berg 1960 

1. A FOLDING STAND COMPRISING A NORMALLY VERTICAL FIRST PANEL INCLUDING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED UPPER AND LOWER EDGES, A FIRST SUPPORT MEMBER HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST PANEL ADJACENT THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID FIRST PANEL, SAID FIRST SUPPORT MEMBER INCLUDING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED LEGS HAVING ABUTMENTS THEREON INTERMEDIATE THE LENGTHS THEREOF, A SECOND PANEL, SAID SECOND PANEL INCLUDING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED UPPER AND LOWER EDGES AND HAVING AT LEAST ONE SLOTTED OPENING ADJACENT THE LOWER EDGE THEREOF, MEANS HINGEDLY CONNECTING AN EDGE OF SAID SECOND PANEL TO SAID FIRST PANEL ADJACENT THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID FIRST PANEL, A SECOND SUPPORT MEMBER OF GENERALLY TRIANGULAR SHAPE INCLUDING A PAIR OF LEGS WHICH CONVERGE ANGULARLY TOWARD EACH OTHER AND MEET IN AN APEX AT THE LOWER END OF SAID SECOND SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID SECOND SUPPORT MEMBER BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND PANELS AT THE HINGED CONNECTION OF SAID PANELS TO EACH OTHER, SAID FIRST AND SECOND SUPPORT MEMBERS BEING MOVABLE ABOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE HINGED CONNECTIONS TO A LIMITING POSITION IN WHICH SAID LEGS OF SAID SECOND SUPPORT MEMBER ENGAGE SAID ABUTMENTS OF SAID FIRST SUPPORT MEMBER, AND INTERLOCK MEANS CARRIED BY THE UPPER END OF SAID FIRST SUPPORT MEMBER AND ENGAGING SAID SLOTTED OPENING IN SAID SECOND PANEL. 